Press Room

Ian Irvine

Associate Researcher

Ian Irvine has been professor of economics at Concordia University since 1978. Mr. Irvine has published studies on public finance, taxation, health economics, income inequality, Canadian employment insurance and social assistance programs, and crime. He holds a doctorate from the University of Western Ontario and has been a visiting professor at the London School of Economics, the University of Sydney, the University of Colorado, and at University College and the Economic and Research Institute in Dublin. (High resolution photo)

Long term growth in the world economy should see a continuation in the rising demand for food products. The recent food spikes have been caused primarily by a series of shorter term shocks and poor policy measures that have seen some economies benefit (Canada for example) and others suffer tremendously. The critical question is: what can be done to improve the situation?

Canadian consumers believe that they are not getting the full value at the check-out counter of the substantial appreciation in the Canadian dollar during the last five years. An exchange rate appreciation makes exports more expensive and imports less expensive. While this creates a more competitive selling environment for the producers of exportables, at the same time it provides a more favorable environment for consumers and importers.